Santa Maria Novella

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Marble facade of Santa Maria Novella, Florence, by Leon Battista Alberti, 1456–70. In the foreground is one of two marble obelisks by the Flemish sculptor best known as Giambologna (Jean de Boulogne).

Interior of the Tornabuoni Chapel of Santa Maria Novella, Florence, with altarpiece, frescoes, and stained glass by Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1486–90.

Read Next

Aerial view of Florence (Firenze), Italy from the campanile of the Duomo, with the gigantic dome (designed by Filippo Brunelleschi) in the foreground. Unidentifiable tourists are visible on top of the dome, which provide a measure of the building s scale.

25 Famous Paintings to See the Next Time You’re in Florence

Milan Cathedral Against Sky During Sunset, Italy

19 Essential Italian Churches

Florence Baptistery of Saint John, Italy

9 Historic Buildings in Florence

The Fortune-Teller, oil on canvas by Georges de La Tour, probably the 1630s; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. (101.9 x 123.5 cm.) (The Fortune Teller)

10 Paintings You Should See at the Met in New York City

Musee du Louvre (Louvre museum)with the glass Pyramid designed by architect I.M. Pei; Paris, France. Photo dated 2008.

29 Paintings You Can Visit Only at the Louvre

Discover

Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1855), founder of the house of Rothschild; lithograph by Friedrich Lieder, c. 1830.

Where Do Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories About the Rothschild Family Come From?

Woman tied to a ducking stool, a method of punishment by means of humiliation, beating, or death. (cucking stool)

8 Unusual Punishments Inflicted on Women Throughout History

Thanksgiving Celebration Traditional Dinner Setting Food Concept

Why Is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday?

New York NY/ USA- November 23, 2018 Hordes of shoppers throng the Macy's Herald Square flagship store in New York looking for bargains on the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday.

Why Is It Called Black Friday?

Why Is Ireland Two Countries?

Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 9th Mechanized Division learning to operate and maintain M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks at Besmaya Combat Training Center, Baghdad, Iraq, 2011. Military training. Iraq war. U.S. Army

8 Deadliest Wars of the 21st Century

Baseball laying in the grass. Homepage blog 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society, sports and games athletics

10 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time

Santa Maria Novella

church, Florence, Italy

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

English:: New St. Mary

See all related content

Santa Maria Novella, Italian Gothic-style church of the Dominicans in Florence. It was planned by two Dominican brothers, Sisto and Ristoro, and construction began c. 1278 and was completed in 1350, except for the facade, which was completed by Leon Battista Alberti in proto-Renaissance style (1456–70).

Frescoes painted on the interior walls of the church, cloister, and chapterhouse are by such Italian masters of Gothic and early Renaissance painting as Andrea Orcagna, Andrea da Firenze, Masaccio (The Trinity fresco), Domenico Ghirlandaio, Filippino Lippi, and Paolo Uccello. Santa Maria Novella also houses important early Renaissance works of sculpture by Filippo Brunelleschi and Benedetto da Maiano.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.